The steadily growing blues & roots scene in Switzerland spotlights Philipp Fankhauser as ist most renowned exponent in the blues genre. "TalkTo Me" is his ninth release after "Live - So Damn Cool" in the year 2003.

Fankhauser, best known for his collaboration with the Checkerboard Blues Band, and Johnny Copeland, cut this album in the USA with the support of a huge array of well respected guests, best known for their collaborations with luminaries such as Robert Cray, Luther and Bernard Allison, and many others.

The six self penned and four cover tunes (two of them by his mentor Johnny Copeland) are set between blues and soul. The album starts out with a funky "Ain't gonna give it up", followed by the soul tinged "Cut off my right Arm". Before the heavy r&b tune "Talk to me" there's the dutiful ballad, Larry Addison's "Member's Only". Fankhauser dedicates the acoustic "Home Town" to his native city of Thun, followed by the tough Texas style blues "Flyin' High" and the mighty funky groove of "Welcome to the real World". The slow blues "Who's gonna sing the blues for you?", and yet another Texas shuffle "Going to Dallas" lead to the Blues Brothers Band's style "Down in the Valley", recorded live in Switzerland, closing this varied set.

Brilliantly performed current album of the vocalist and  guitar player from Switzerland - to bad though, that there had to be an end after only 10 songs and 42 minutes.

Rudi Steinke, Blues Box

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